Anonymous wrote:I retired 7 years ago at 53. So far I've been through two major market adjustments. The first was two years ago, when Covid first hit and the market dropped more than 30 percent. The second is now.
Market fluctuations are part of life. If you don't think you can stomach them, you're not ready to retire.
You have to think and look long term. Yes, things suck right now -- big time. But I'm still well, well ahead of where I was when I retired despite two major market fluctuations. My net worth was $4.8 million when I retired in 2015, and as of today it's $7.02 million. Yes, six months ago it was $8 million, meaning on paper I've lost $1 million this year. But I'm staying the course, and not regretting my decision to retire one iota.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Had been planning to retire this summer in my early 60s, but the rampant inflation and stock market declines have been kicking our butts financially.
Would still have a sizable net worth but have seen investments go down substantially in recent months. Wondering if people who were part of the "Great Resignation" over the past year or so are regretting their decision. I would feel like a chump if I retired now and felt obliged to work again and ended up taking a lower-paying job. As it stands, don't have a pension and would have to pay for healthcare out of own pocket.
Most folks start to adjust their investments as they reach retirement(5 or so years out). Mostly to low risk and and least aggressive. Did you guys making any adjustments?
This! If you are retiring, your portfolio should be extremely conservative; you shouldn't have investments that are going down.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Had been planning to retire this summer in my early 60s, but the rampant inflation and stock market declines have been kicking our butts financially.
Would still have a sizable net worth but have seen investments go down substantially in recent months. Wondering if people who were part of the "Great Resignation" over the past year or so are regretting their decision. I would feel like a chump if I retired now and felt obliged to work again and ended up taking a lower-paying job. As it stands, don't have a pension and would have to pay for healthcare out of own pocket.
Most folks start to adjust their investments as they reach retirement(5 or so years out). Mostly to low risk and and least aggressive. Did you guys making any adjustments?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Had been planning to retire this summer in my early 60s, but the rampant inflation and stock market declines have been kicking our butts financially.
Would still have a sizable net worth but have seen investments go down substantially in recent months. Wondering if people who were part of the "Great Resignation" over the past year or so are regretting their decision. I would feel like a chump if I retired now and felt obliged to work again and ended up taking a lower-paying job. As it stands, don't have a pension and would have to pay for healthcare out of own pocket.
Most folks start to adjust their investments as they reach retirement(5 or so years out). Mostly to low risk and and least aggressive. Did you guys making any adjustments?
+1
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For healthcare reasons alone I'd recommend keep working.
Have you priced out Obamacare for your state?
I pay $800 per month (for 1) with a $6000 deductible under the Affordable Care act. It is the cheapest plan offered in my state. I get no government subsidy as I earn over $46,000 per year.
I'm guessing you live in one of those states that rejected federal expansion of Medicaid and ACA which lowered premiums in general. That would have made your base premium at a lower rate regardless of your earning potential. Perils of being blue in a red state. There's 12 of them - including 'business friendly' Texas and Florida.
https://www.kff.org/medicaid/issue-brief/status-of-state-medicaid-expansion-decisions-interactive-map/
how old are you?Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For healthcare reasons alone I'd recommend keep working.
Have you priced out Obamacare for your state?
I pay $800 per month (for 1) with a $6000 deductible under the Affordable Care act. It is the cheapest plan offered in my state. I get no government subsidy as I earn over $46,000 per year.
We priced it out, around $40k for our family of four for a silver plan.
Maybe go HMO.
Ours is $1180/mo high deductible HSA eligible HMO plan - family of four in MD. Still, it allows us to not be dependent on a employers for healthcare.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Had been planning to retire this summer in my early 60s, but the rampant inflation and stock market declines have been kicking our butts financially.
Would still have a sizable net worth but have seen investments go down substantially in recent months. Wondering if people who were part of the "Great Resignation" over the past year or so are regretting their decision. I would feel like a chump if I retired now and felt obliged to work again and ended up taking a lower-paying job. As it stands, don't have a pension and would have to pay for healthcare out of own pocket.
Most folks start to adjust their investments as they reach retirement(5 or so years out). Mostly to low risk and and least aggressive. Did you guys making any adjustments?
If your less aggressive allocation includes a lot of bonds, you're still screwed this time around.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Had been planning to retire this summer in my early 60s, but the rampant inflation and stock market declines have been kicking our butts financially.
Would still have a sizable net worth but have seen investments go down substantially in recent months. Wondering if people who were part of the "Great Resignation" over the past year or so are regretting their decision. I would feel like a chump if I retired now and felt obliged to work again and ended up taking a lower-paying job. As it stands, don't have a pension and would have to pay for healthcare out of own pocket.
Most folks start to adjust their investments as they reach retirement(5 or so years out). Mostly to low risk and and least aggressive. Did you guys making any adjustments?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you have enough cash to last 1-2 years without touching your investments, you’re fine. The people who get screwed are not those who retire in bad times, but those who retire in bad times AND sell their investments.
Re: cash
What happens in times of inflation, when your money buys less?
What happens if the market is down so long your cash runs out?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you have enough cash to last 1-2 years without touching your investments, you’re fine. The people who get screwed are not those who retire in bad times, but those who retire in bad times AND sell their investments.
Re: cash
What happens in times of inflation, when your money buys less?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you have enough cash to last 1-2 years without touching your investments, you’re fine. The people who get screwed are not those who retire in bad times, but those who retire in bad times AND sell their investments.
Re: cash
What happens in times of inflation, when your money buys less?
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:For healthcare reasons alone I'd recommend keep working.
Have you priced out Obamacare for your state?
I pay $800 per month (for 1) with a $6000 deductible under the Affordable Care act. It is the cheapest plan offered in my state. I get no government subsidy as I earn over $46,000 per year.
We priced it out, around $40k for our family of four for a silver plan.
Anonymous wrote:Anonymous wrote:If you have enough cash to last 1-2 years without touching your investments, you’re fine. The people who get screwed are not those who retire in bad times, but those who retire in bad times AND sell their investments.
Re: cash
What happens in times of inflation, when your money buys less?